67 Quotes by Robert A. Caro

From the earliest beginnings of Lyndon Johnson’s political life – from his days at college when he had captured control of campus politics – his tactics had consistently revealed a pragmatism and a cynicism that had no discernible limits.

A laconic Texas lawmaker declined to use his considerable influence to intervene in a loud dispute between his colleagues. When asked why not, he said, “They’re not voting. If they’re not voting, they’re not passing any laws. If they’re not passing any laws, they’re not hurting anybody.

We certainly see how government can work to your detriment today, but people have forgotten what government can do for you. They’ve forgotten the potential of government, the power of government, to transform people’s lives for the better.

Richard Russell adored his wife. After they had been married for almost forty years, he sent her a note saying, “With a sense of love and gratitude that is overpowering, I can only say God bless you, idol of my heart.

I never conceived of my biographies as merely telling the lives of famous men but rather as a means of illuminating their times and the great forces that shaped their times – particularly political power, since in a democracy political power has so great a role in shaping the lives of the citizens of that democracy.

But I don’t know anything about investigative reporting.” Alan looked at me for what I remember as a very long time. “Just remember,” he said. “Turn every page. Never assume anything. Turn every goddamned page.

And he worked himself, worked himself. He had made up his mind to be President, and he was demonic in his drive.

In every election in which he ran – not only in college, but thereafter – he displayed a willingness to do whatever was necessary to win: a willingness so complete that even in the generous terms of political morality, it amounted to amorality.

A newcomer could ascertain the identity of a town’s true leaders – which storekeeper was respected, which farmer was listened to other farmers – only through endless hours of subtle probing of reticent men.